Disclaimers in part 1
They decided to go for a walk after the ball,
since it was a wonderful night, even if the desert air was a touch chilly.
Without a word, AJ took off his jacket and gently wrapped it around her shoulders.
She pulled the lapels together and she could smell his cologne. He left his arm
around her. She leaned against him a bit, "Thanks, AJ."
"What for? Making you come?"
"No. For coming with me. I’ve had a lot
of fun this weekend with you here."
"So have I, Sarah. Thank you for letting
me come."
They walked without saying anything for a few
minutes, until they reached a small pond hidden within the hotel’s landscaping.
They stopped and spotting a little bench, they sat down. He sat next to her,
their legs touching but nothing else. "What are you thinking about,
AJ?"
"Something you said this morning."
She turned away, "I really didn’t mean
to fall asleep on the bed. Staying up as late as I did I’m just surprised I
didn’t fall asleep earlier."
"No it wasn’t that Sarah. It was what
you said about Rabb."
"What did I say?" He turned and
looked at his shoes before he continued.
"I know you are very comfortable around
him, and I know you care for each other but at the dress shop you said you were
just friends. Yet he acts like your apartment is his second home and you steal
his T-shirts."
He stopped when she tentatively reached her
hand out to his hand. "AJ. Harm is my best friend. There will never be
anything more than that between us." He didn’t say anything, just looked
at her. "Kathy made me realize something for the first time tonight."
"What was that?"
"She said you weren’t my boss anymore. I
thought about that and realized over the years that I’ve known you there seemed
to be a tension between us. I never said anything because you were my CO."
He took her hand in both of his, "I
never said anything because of that and because of Rabb." She smiled
softly at him.
"You are beautiful in the moonlight,
Sarah."
"Thank you. I never told you how good
you looked tonight. I’ve never seen you in formal civvies before."
"Like it better than the uniform?"
"I don’t know. You’ll have to wear it
again so I can compare," she said jokingly.
"Ok, Sarah," he said with out
joking. She looked up at him intrigued as he slowly lifted his hand and ran his
fingertips along her jaw line. She smiled as he said, "if we are
interrupted this time…" and with very gentle pressure he drew her near and
gently lowered his lips to hers. At first the kiss was gentle and soft, until
she balanced herself by placing her hand on his thigh. He slipped his hand
around her neck and deepened the kiss. They finally stopped to breathe; they
looked deeply into each other’s eyes until she realized where her hand was.
Startled she jerked her hand away. "I’m
sorry."
"I’m not. I’ve wanted to kiss you like
that for a long time, Sarah."
"You have?" he nodded. "So
have I, AJ." His lips gently began to curve.
"You know, that makes me very
happy." He leaned in for another kiss, which she met halfway. This kiss
was quicker but left them just as breathless. He pulled her into his arms and
they simply sat there holding each other. She started to think about where this
would go. She was almost afraid, sex was never all that much of a priority to
her. Her husband Chris had often told her that she wasn’t any good at it. She
was worried that AJ would be disappointed in her.
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